
Louise Crookenden-Johnson (2310)
Louise Crookenden Johnson Ceramics
Louise hand makes and illustrates happy pottery animals, birds and figures.
She lives in Kettering, Northamptonshire in the UK and was inspired in her early teens by a local potter to start making pottery and went on to do a Degree in Ceramics at Loughborough College of Art 1987-1991.
She enjoys making things people treasure and use and most importantly give them pleasure and make them smile, it’s wonderful to also design bespoke pieces.
The little animals and birds are Louises best-sellers – based on the sorts of things that she likes to collect and own, they have a slightly retro feel with a fresh bright slant.
She has a beautiful light, purpose-built pottery studio surrounded by garden. Much of the workshop is fitted out with valued equipment and furniture that was given to her or reclaimed, such as her grandmother’s lovely old armchair where she sometimes just sits, look at the garden, birds, clouds, and ponders what to do next……
Kettering is a small, interesting town with a healthy community feel. It’s a good place to be based for both business and family. It’s also well-connected to Midlands transport routes – only an hour from London by train, anyone can book to learn pottery with her and she regularly runs ‘throw a pot’ experiences for beginners and other sessions with clay.
The radio is always on, BBC Radio 3 is Louises favourite for working to, clay teaches you to pace your day, be in the moment and have patience. Clay is recyclable before firing in the kiln, so infinitely reusable and this theme of sustainability permeates her values. Louise has been moving to only smart paper bubble wrap, card and natural twine and reuses all packaging that comes her way!
There are always tons of ideas to work on and at the moment that includes more complex built pieces for galleries and smaller less complicated pieces at an accessible price point.